Remote control direction selecting system

• US 5,043,646 A
• Filed: 05/01/1990
• Issued: 08/27/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smith Engineering Co.
• Original Assignee: Smith Engineering Co.
• Inventors: Smith, Jay III, Schmieder, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US07/517,368
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 318/16, 318/580, 318/583, 318/581, 318/584, 318/587, 318/588
• US Class Current: 318/581
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0033 by having the operator tracking the vehicle either by direct line of sight or via one or more cameras located remotely from the vehicle

Abstract

A remote control transmitter/receiver system wherein an absolute direction command may be issued by the transmitter and acted upon by the receiver. The transmitter and receiver both include a common reference direction so that an absolute direction command (i.e., relative to the common reference direction) may be issued and acted upon. In a preferred embodiment, the transmitter operates in accordance with an internal compass signal so that an absolute direction command relative to magnetic North can be generated by the transmitter. The receiver also functions in accordance with an internal compass signal so that an absolute direction command transmitted to the receiver can be effected. The transmitter and receiver may be microprocessor controlled, and the internal compass signal may be generated with an electronic flux gate compass. The invention may be used in place of the conventional remote control systems that are used with hand-held transmitters and hobby vehicles.

Claims

1. An improved remote control device that includes a selecting means for allowing a user to select a user desired direction and a means for transmitting a direction control signal in accordance therewith to control a direction related feature of a remotely controlled device, the improvement comprising:

a first direction measuring means in the remote control device for measuring the orientation of the remote control device relative to an external reference direction and for outputting a first component signal representative thereof;

a second direction measuring means in the remote control device for measuring the user desired direction relative to the remote control device and for outputting a second component signal representative thereof; and

a processing means for generating the direction control signal based on the first component signal and the second component signal, the direction control signal corresponding to the user desired direction relative to the external reference direction whereby the user selects the user desired direction relative to the external reference direction without regard to the orientation of the remote control device.

2. The improved remote control device of claim 1 where the external reference direction is magnetic north.

3. The improved remote control device of claim 1 wherein the first direction measuring means is comprised of a flux gate magnometer.

4. An improved remotely controlled device having a direction related feature that is controlled based upon a direction control signal received from a remote control device, the improvement comprising:

measuring means in the remotely controlled device for measuring the orientation of the remotely controlled device relative to an external reference direction and for outputting a component signal representative thereof wherein the measuring means is comprised of a flux gate magnometer; and

means for controlling the direction related feature of the remotely controlled device based upon the direction control signal and the component signal whereby the direction related feature is controlled in a particular direction relative to the external reference direction based upon the direction control signal.

5. The improved remotely controlled device of claim 4 wherein the external reference direction is magnetic north.

6. A remote control hobby vehicle system comprising:

(1) a hand-held control device including;

(a) selecting means on the hand-held control device for allowing a user to select a desired direction relative to an external reference direction;

(b) a first direction measuring means for measuring the orientation of the selecting means relative to the hand-held control device and for outputting a first component direction signal;

(c) a second direction measuring means for measuring the orientation of the hand-held control device relative to the external reference direction and for outputting a second component direction signal;

(d) processing means for deriving a direction control signal that corresponds to the desired direction, the direction control signal being derived from the first and second component direction signals; and

(e) transmitter means for transmitting the direction control signal; and

(2) a hobby vehicle including;

(a) receiver means for receiving the direction control signal;

(b) a third direction measuring means for measuring the orientation of the hobby vehicle relative to the external reference direction and for outputting a third component direction signal;

(c) control means for outputting a steering signal that is proportional to the difference between the direction control signal and the third component direction signal; and

(d) steering means for steering the hobby vehicle in the desired direction in response to the steering signal.

7. The remote control hobby vehicle system of claim 6 wherein the selecting means is a joystick.

8. The remote control hobby vehicle system of claim 6 wherein the external reference direction is magnetic north.

9. The remote control hobby vehicle system of claim 6 wherein the selecting means is a joystick;

the first direction measuring means is comprised of microswitches that are activated by the joystick; and

the second and third direction measuring means are each comprised of a flux gate magnometer.